Rope fitting



MarCh 12, 1940.. W, A, MEIGHAN 2,193,236

ROPE FITTING Filed NOV. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheeil l March 12, 1940v w. A. MEIGHAN ROPE FITTING Filed Nov. 16, 193'( 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED. STTES `N Patented Mar. .12, i940 TENT oFricE N ting'which inaybe secured to the end of a ilexibleelem'ent, such as a cableor Wire rope, by a simple loop which maybe formed by han'd and 'f which when loosely dened can be pulled into position by `tension applied to said ilexible element. My` invention has its greatestadvantage in logging and `construction Work. It is impracticalole to provide Workmen with tools orsecuring the end ofa ilexible element to fittings and thus it was considered impracticable to make repairs on the job. Heretofore it was deemed necessary that said ttings be secured to the cables and the like in a repair shop, blacksmiths sh'opor other place Where proper tools *were available.

By my invention itv is possible to secure my irnproved type of fittingv to the end of a ilexible ele- `ment by `forming the end of said element into a loosely formed `knot."` The `extreme end of said `exible element 'is arranged ina socket and `the l' loop `can then be arranged manually so that when tension is thereafter applied; tothe rope, the

latter binds itself nto a tight knot about said tting Without tending to pull the end of said .flexible element free. Said loop is formed so thatthe tension applied to said iiexible element tendsto seat the knot formed by the'looped end l, of such cable more tightly to the tting. The

end` of said cable is arranged in said knot to snub the intermediateportions of said cable to prevent the detachment of said rope therefrom. All of the `portions of said rope Whichare subject to pulling strain pass about smooth `corners `,and make relatively gradual curves so that the `full strength of the rope can be utilized. l

I attain this object by providing a coupling, somewhat elongated in form, with a transverse eye formed at one end. The enol` of the Flexible element togbe bound thereto can be inserted laterally thrusaid eye, `Wound `about the body` in a looselyformed loop encircling said body,.and the extreme end of said element may zbe inserted in where said portions cross each other, they"`are` arranged "substantially normal, with the uppermost course binding` or pinching .the underlying course tightly against the body. The loosely formed loop lies substantially in the longitudinal4 invention in whichA the iierible elementvpasses` thru an eye but is thereafter only looped,abouti` plane of the body of` the coupling, although it encircles the latter. 'Ihe eye `extends substantially normal to said plane and the pocket whichthe extreme end of said iiexible element is ment. vThe knot tends to remain tight and does L elasticity of a Wire cable to becomeunseated When `such accessory fastening devices as ferrules`,:

lines, as is theilongitudinallyextending pocket f which the end of lsaid flexible element` isguided pling; and

inserted, extends substantially longitudinally thereof.` Thus, when thes end of a flexible ele'` nient is looped to `follovvjthe conigurations of the groove forrnedinsaid body, `the subsequent ten-` 4 sion tends to bind the, looped end `of the flexible 5 element in place` and distorts the flexible 4ele'- not spring out under the iniiuence of the inherent tension is releasedl l Thus," it isnot necessarylto provide 'fastening devicesof `any kind, and all clips, studs, screwsQclamps or-` other fastening means are avoided. Thus, the end of a exible v n element, such as a wire rope orcable, can be l5' looped about said fitting and can be secured thereto rmly and-securely by any lineman or Workman Without difficulty and Without Ispecial tools. i l Further details of' my invention arehereinaiter` ggf described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which: A Fig. l is, an elevation offaY coupling `embodying my invention in Which the arrangement of the annular groove or seat is indicatedin dotted for receiving and holdingthe extremeend of said exible element; Y A Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View takenon the line 2-2 in Fig. l ands'hovvs a cross-sectional 30; view thru the annular groove as Well as thru the eye to which the coupling is secured;` l

l Fig. 3 is anelevationlof said/coupling showing the reverse side Vto that shown in Fig. l; 1

` Fig. 4 is atransverse horizontal section taken 35 on the line 4 5 1in Fig. lthru thelannular groove and looking into the pocket; y, j

' Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. l1 except that the l flexible element is shown looped and Asecuredtherein,` with the extreme end of said element 40 shown inserted in said pocket; l.

Fig. 6 is a'longitudinal sectional `view `taken l substantially on the line --S in Fig. 5, showing the manner in -Whi'ch the loop is Formed in said `iiexible element;l i i m4 Fig. '7 is a transverse section taken on the line 'l-# in Figli, Withthe ilexible element shown I removed therefrom, illustrating the groove byV into-the pocket; l

. l iso4 Fig. 8 is an elevation of; amodification of my` rather thanfinserted `thruthe body ofjthe cou Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, are diagrammatic illustrations of the manner in which the end of a wire rope or cableinitially may be fitted to said coupling, the extreme end inserted in the socket portion thereof, and the intermediate portion formed into two overlying loops relatively arranged to be drawn successively by tension about v,said fitting and adapted to secure a length of cable to such type of fastening device. To this end,`a transverse aperture c is formed thru the oppositeend of said body, and a length oi cable d may be passed therethru and secured to said body by a loosely formed knot hereinafter described.

` `vention is to provide a rope fitting which may Y Said transverse aperture extends thru `said body atan oblique angle, as is illustrated in Fig. 6, but said angle extends more thru the thicky ness of the body than lengthwise thereof so'that a` relatively sharp bend is formed in said cable as it leaves said aperture c. As has been pointed vout heretofore, the principal purpose of my inbe easily and quickly secured to the end of a cable. ToA this end, said fitting is adapted to accommodate the end of said cable formed into a loop d. 'Ihe face of saidbody is provided Vwith a `longitudinal passagewaye extending along the flat or left-hand face of said body, as viewed in Fig. Said passageway e leads from the aperture c to another transverse aperture extending thru said body. It is to be noted that said aperture f is not circular inform. A protuberance f extends into said aperture to leave a hole which might bedescribed as ear-shaped in section. The looped end d when seated, as illusy trated in Fig.V 5, is located below said protuberance, that is, in the' lower part of the opening f.

At this point, the cable is wedged'tightly in. place and cannot be liftedtherefrom without the expenditure of a great deal of effort. Extending yfrom the far side of said secondary transverse aperture f, as viewed in Fig. 5, is a helically formed external groove g which extends about the rounded .back of said body to the left-hand side thereof, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, a continuation of saidV groove extending from the point where it intersects itself and bending sharply toward a pocket, hereinafter described. Upon the front face of said body,` that is, the at face or left-hand face, as viewed` in Fig. said groove g intersects the longitudinal vpassageway e. Said passageway e, said secondary aperture f, and

groove g might be said to constitute a con- .tinuousway'for the cable, rope, or other flexible element. v

A longitudinally extending pocket h having an open mouth h is arranged at one side of thel llongitudinal passageway e.

'Ihe extreme end of the end d2 of the cable is adapted to be forced into said pocket. The longitudinal pocket h extends substantially parallel to the passageway n leand is substantially normal to the far end of the groove gf The transverse aperture c, the longitudinal` passageway e, the secondary transverse aperture "J1, the helically lformed groove g, and the bore of the pocket h are substantial continuations of each other. Thus, when the cable is formed into a loop d', and the extreme end d2 is iirst seated tightly within said pocket, it is caused to bend sharply as it leaves the open mouth 71,' of said pocket. The cable is relativeiy'stiff and it is diicult to make this turn. I thus form a shoulder i below and slightly to one side of said pocket h. Against said shoulder, said cable can be bent to lie along the groove y. Said groeve preferably is formed with a trough-like bottom g to hold said cable in place.

Lying at one side of said shoulder i is a longitudinally extending grooved guide slot fi. Said guide slot is alined with the bore of the pocket h and is used initially to help guide the end d2 of the loop into position. Said guide slot is curved somewhat, as is illustrated in Fig. '7, and by forcing the end of said cable downwardly against said vguide slot, the frayed, broomed or mushroomed ends, of the strands forming the cable can be easily guided into the open end h' of said pocket. When said loop d' is initially formed loosely, the section of the cable passing thru the secondary aperturel f lies above the protuberance f. When tension is applied by some pulling device the loop tightens into place and is slipped under the said protuberance f and `is locked into position. The distance from the point of id protuberance to the opposite side of said aperture is preferably less than the diameter of the cabie. The tension and the slight sliding in tightening said looped end permits said cable to be moved under said protuberance and when it is thus in position and the looped end of the cable tightened so that the cable overlies an intermediate portion as at d3 and takes a bight thereon, the'loop is seated tightly and does not tend to become unseated. The sharp or substantially square bend in the cable in leaving the mouth h of the pocket, the bearing of said cable in the `trough-like bottom of the helical groove g, and

the pinching of said cable underneath said protuberance f', all combine to cause said loop to remain tight even in the absence of tension.

.It is to be noted, however, that the aperture, the groove andthe passageway against which the cable bears in pulling are rounded so that the loop is caused `to be formed upon relatively gradual curves so that nicking of the cable is eliminated. Nickingor sharp bends might tend to produce early fracture of said cable at the points of said nicking or sharp bending. rThe cable for which said fittings have possibly their greatest utility are made of relatively hard steel, and I prefer to make said fittings of manganese steel. VManganese steel isquite tough but it is somewhat softer than the Wire rope. Thus, said wire rope tends to gouge into the manganese steel and to become seated or keyed thereby. I deem it necessary to take advantage of all of these structural characteristics because it is my intention to provide a rope fitting which may be secured to the end of a cabler Without the use of tools. AIf said fittings are used in structural work or in logging it is impracticable to provide workmen with tools which must be carried with them. It is necessary .that if said nttings are to besecured to the end of a cable that the operations in fitting said parts vtogether initiallybe subject to accomplishment withoutI tools and lwith only as much power as lcan be generated within the strength of an avertightened` by auxiliary `powerfsuchfor example i as ahoisting engine, logging engine, tractortor the like, with which said cable and iitting are adapted to be used. ,e In Fig. 811 illustrate a modication of my invention in which it is` necessary to insert theend Iof the cable thru but one transverse aperture The `end oi' a length ofcable to be secured thereto can then'be passed upwardly along an encircling way comprising a longitudinal passageway ,Z, thru` an elongated groove m, and around a helically formed groove n. This modiiication diiers .from the first embodiment `illustrated in Figs. 1

to ,7, inclusive, by the elimination of the transverse aperture f, `By forming said aperture into i aslot,` one threading operation of the cable can `ing said loop andthe relationship of the parts of ting of.` the section d3 inposition can be accom- 'plishedI with heavy wire `rope ,only by the use of beeliminated `and the loop can be formed by passing it about thenarrowed portion o" of the body of the fitting jo. With the exception of this difference, the fittings are identical. `The body o `is provided with ashoulderp and withv a pocket q for receiving the end of the cable. A guide slot r is provided, leading` into the mouth of said pocket q to aid in `the insertion of the end of said cable `iritolsaid pocket, andthe operation in formsaid` fitting are thev same asin said iirst embodiment `and `said, characteristics and l advantages with regard to the modications shown in Fig.,y 8`

willthus not berepeated.

Said second modification has its greatest use with small cable and hemp rope and thelike `whereit is possible` to form a loop about the body of the tting almost wholly by hand. In the rst `embodiment the `seating of the loop and the iitsubstantial tension generated, by a hoisting Inachine. The specific manner in which said loop is initially formed and `later tightened is shown;

progressively in Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive. e

'Iheiitting illustratedin Figs. l to 7, inclusive,

is adapted to be secured to the end of a length or,

stiiT wire rope, such for example, to logging cable as large as ,l1/8 in diameter. Wire rope of this character is of the size` and strength, hardness andstiifness, requiredin providing mainlines for pulling in heavy loads. `Ithas a substantial fac- `tor of `elasticity and stiffness, and when under` strain, tends to lie straight. It` lis therefore difcult to formit into coilswithout the application of a great deal of force.'` It is necessarytherefore, as is illustrated in Fig. 9, `to form the loop to ,secure the end of acable to said ttingin relatively wide sweeps and with plenty of slack.

As is illustrated in` said figure, when the wire` rope d is rst threaded thru `the transverse aperture c in the tting, it is formed into a relatively wide loop and it is` then threaded downwardly thruthe second transverse aperture f above the protuberance f'. A second wide loop `y is then formed,` and the `end o' the "cable d2, shown in dotted outline in Fig. 9, is lead thru the loopr and is then seated in the pocket h. f

As is illustratedinlthe iigureS, the lower end of loop y is then fed upwardly manually thru the loop 3:, and said loop :t is moved downwardly as a whole and is tipped out of the plane in which it lies in Fig. 9 toa position substantially at right angles thereto, as is shown in Fig. 10.` It is desirable` also in many instances to take upa little of the slack of the loop a: thru the transverse aperture f until; the` partsoverlie at z, shown in Fig. 10, At this point, the portions of cable overl l lapping at` z tightly engage each otherl or engage Vthe cable in place.

to such a degree .that if the cable is then normally released, said parts are secured to each other by the inherent stiffness and engagement of the wire rope itself. 4 v y In sliding into the positionzshown in Fig. 10, the

end of the cable emergingfrorn the pocket isv caused to be bent at a sharp angle. This` causes the extreme end cl2to be locked into position. It isfto be noted that the loop x moving downwardly e does not tend to rpull the end of the cable from Jthe pocket, but on thev other hand tends to push itinstill further. With the parts `thus arranged` mechanical `power can be` applied to form the cable into the knot illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. `This is accomplished yby` securinga chain s or some similar flexible element to av stake t or other `point of iasteningland pulling the cable d onto power driven drum u. l

'I'he rsttaction inrnoving" the cable, as shown Iin Fig. ll., iste-eliminate `the loop r. The inherf entI stiffness of said cable causes the cable to` engage the transverseaperture f and thus the` The pulling out of said loop 'and the arranging of said cable in a shortr 2 555? `loop :c rst pulled out.

flat curve, as is shown in Fig. 11, causes the portion d3 ofthecable tobe lifted and seated in the` transverse passageway g; The straightening out Vof 'saidfloop also causes the portion d3 toV be pinched under the remainder to lock "it in place inl said passageway. It is to be noted by a comparison of Fig. l0` with Fig.` 1,1, that theloop in straightcning'out has rnovedupwardly, that is,` towardsthe pocket h, to tend to force the end d2 more tightlyin place as saidloop a; is being taken` up.` Thisbending tends to cause the end dZto be seated tightly in place and every movement is `to drive it into the pocket rather than to pull "it therefrom.

After the cable is arranged, as is shown in Fig. l

l1, the continued movement in pulling out the loop y merely'is a mechanical action and a tightenin-g of ythe loop, as `isshown progressively in cable is so secured to the fitting that the release `of tensiondoes not produce a loosening of the knot thus formed.

It is thus obvious that a workman can secure the end of a cableVeven of such `large .diameter and of'such thickness as mainline cable in logging, to a fitting of thischaraoter with` nothing other than his two hands and the use of the logging engine or other hoisting engine to which said cable is attached. The iitting and the loop formed thereabout are arranged so` as to take advantage of the natural tendency of said loop to iirstseat the 4end of the `cable tightly in position before `the remaining slack in the form of `loops is removed` In the drawings, Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, the iirstl two operations are manual,

while the last three operations, 'shown inv Figs. v11

`to 13,` inclusive, are performed by the subjecting y of said cable to tension by a power drivenvvhoisting drum u.

`I claim: l

e 1. A coupling, adapted tozbe boundto'the end of a flexible element, said coupling comprising an elongated body dening a transverse aperture vextending thru said body at one end thereof, an

annular groove encircling a portion'of said body, said groove communicating at its near end with said aperture, said groove extending about said body to a point where rits far end intersects its near end adjacent the aperture, afpocliet open at one end, lying at the side of said point adjacent the far end of said groove and being vinclined. at asharp angle to said end, whereby vthe end of said flexible element can be looped about said body, said loop passing thru the aperture, about the groove withthe end of the loop passed. under the intermediate portion thereof flexed abruptly and securely seated in said pocket, and a shoulderedA abutment formed at the endof said groove adjacent said pocket for guiding the looped flexibleelementinto said groove, v

2. A coupling adapted to be bound lto the end of a flexible element, said coupling comprisingan elongated body defining a transverse aperture extending thru said body at'one end thereof, an annular groove encircling a portion of said body,-

near end adjacent the aperture, a' pocket open at one end, lying at the side of said point adjacent the far end of said groove and being rinclined at a sharp'iangle to said end, whereby the end of said flexible element can be looped about said body, said loop passing thru the aperture, about 3. A coupling adapted to be bound'to the end of a flexible element, said coupling comprising an elongated body defining a transverse aperture intersects its near end adjacent the aperture, a

pocket lying at the side of saidpoint adjacent the far end of said seat, whereby the end of said ilexible element can be looped about said body, said looppassing thru the aperture, about the seat withthe end ofy the loop passed under the intermediate portion thereof, and securely seated in said pocket, a portion of said groove being of greater depth than the diameter of said iiexible element and having a narrower overlying portion adapted to permit the passage of said element into said portion but restraining its outward movement therefrom.

4. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a exible element comprising an elongated body defining a transverse aperture extending thru said body for passing one end of said element therethru, an lencircling way communicating at its near end with said aperture and extending about said body to intersect itself adjacent said yaperture for accommodating said element,'and

' the end of said flexible element can be passed thru theaperture, looped about said body, arranged Yl'along the way with the end of the loop passed Iabout said body to intersect itself adjacent said aperture for accommodating said element, and a v pocket open at one end lying adjacent the end of said way most distant from said aperture, said pocket extending generally in the same direction as said transverse aperture whereby the end of said flexible element can be passed thru the aperl ture, looped about said body, and arranged along the way with the end of the loop passed under the intermediate portion thereof and securely seated 1in said pocket.

6. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a flexible element comprising an elongated body dening a transverse aperture extending thru said body for passing one end of said element therethru, an encircling way communicating at its near end with said aperture and extending about said body to intersect itself adjacent said aperture, `for accommodating said element, and a pocket open at one end lying adjacent the end of said way most distant from said aperture, said pocket extending generally in the same direction as said transverse aperture and exteriorly of said encircling groove whereby the end of said exible element can be passed thru the aperture, and arranged along the way with the end of the loop passed under the intermediate portion thereof and securely seated in said pocket.

7, A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a flexible element comprising an elongated body dening a transverse aperture extending thru said body for passing one end of said element therethru, an encircling way communicat-` ing at its near end with said aperture and ex tending about said body to intersect itself adja cent said aperture, for accommodating said element, said way adjacent said point of intersection extending for a substantial portion of its length in alinernent with said aperture in one longitudinal pla-ne, and a pocket lying adjacent the end of said way most distant from said aperture whereby the end of said flexible element can be passed thru the aperture, looped about said body, and arranged along the way with the end of the loop passed under the intermediate portion thereof and securely seated in said pocket.

A coupling adapted to be bound-to the end of a flexible element comprising an elongated body deiining a transverse aperture extending thrusaid body for passing one end of said element therethru, an encircling way communicating at `its near end with said aperture and extending about said body to intersect itself adf jacent said apertureior accommodating said elenient, said way adjacent said point of intersection extending for a substantial portion of its length in alinernent with said aperture in one longitudinal plane and extending along a gradually curved sweep in a longitudinal plane 4normal to' said iirst mentioned plane, and a pocket lying adjacent the end oi said way most distant from said aperture whereby the end of said flexf ible element can be passed thruthe aperture, looped about said body,and arranged along the wayvwith the end of the loop passed under the i intermediate portion thereof ,and securely seated in said pocket.

.9.A coupling adapted to be bound to theend of a flexible element comprising` an `elongated body deninga` transverse aperture extending thru said bodgl7 for passing one end of said element theretliru, an encircling way communicat ing at its near end with said apertureand extending `about said body tofintersect itself ad-` `jacent said aperture, for accommodating said element, said path being a groove deeper from said near end towards said point of intersection whereby when said element lies in said ygrooveit is positionedslightly `below the point of`communication of theaperture with said way, and a pocket lying adjacent the end of `said way most distant from said aperture whereby the end `of said ilexl ible element can be passed thru the aperture,` looped about said body, and farranged along the Way with the end of the loop passed under the n intermediate portion thereof and securely seated in said pocket. n

10. A coupling adapteditobe bound to the end `of aflexible element comprising an elongated body defining a transverse aperture extending thru said body for passing one end ofsaid eiement therethru, an encircling way ccnirnunicatingat its near end with said aperture and extending about said body to intersect itself adjacent said aperture for accommodating saidV element,

said path being a groove progressively deeper i from said near end towards said point of intersection whereby when said element lies `in said groove rit is positioned slightly below the point of communication of the aperture with said way, and a pocket lying adjacent the end otsaid way most distant from said aperture whereby the end oi" said iiexible element can be passed thru the aperture, looped about said body, and arranged along the way with theA end of the loop Ipassed under thev intermediate portion thereof `and securely seated in said pocket.

11. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end fof a exible element comprising an elongated body defining va transverse aperture extending l thru said body for passing one end oi 'said element therethru, an encircling way communicating` at its near end with said aperture and extending about said body to intersect itself adjacent said aperture for accommodating saidelenient, said way adjacent said point of intersection `extending for a substantial portion of its length way, and a pocket open at one end lying adjacent the end of said way most distant from said aperture and being inclined at asharp angle o said end, said pocket extending generally in the same direction as` said transverse aperture and exteriorly of said encircling groove, said pocket being vproportionedto receive and hold securely the extreme endof said flexible element whereby the end of said exible element can be passed thru the aperture, looped about said body, arranged `along the way with the end of the loop passedunder the intermediate portion thereof and flexed abruptly over the edge of and securely seated inl said pocket. f n WILLIAM A. MEIGI-IAN. 

